§ Mr. Kellyasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that authority was given by the Home Office in March, 1936, for a prisoner named Wicks, then at Wormwood Scrubs Prison, to be allowed to prepare a petition to this House, and that in connection therewith a letter written by the petitioner to his solicitors on 28th March, 1936, was held up until 24th April, 1936; and who was responsible for the holding-up of the letter after the Home Office had authorised the forwarding of such letter?
§ Sir S. HoareI find that in March, 1936, a firm of solicitors then acting for this prisoner were informed in reply to an inquiry by them that they would be given facilities to visit the prisoner in connection with the preparation of a petition which he wished to present to Parliament, and such visit took place. The prisoner then wrote a letter to his solicitors. As there was doubt whether this letter came within the purposes for 1077W which letters are authorised by the Prison Rules it was sent to the Home Office for instructions. It was decided that the letter might be sent and it was transmitted by the Home Office to the solicitors with a covering communication.